Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-09-30

1drlH E6pC up, ana MSnOHe IS letter was nc
better. Both parties want to conciliate
the whiskey trade. All that was said in
the Prohibition platform would apply to
one party as much as the other.
The platform was then read by sections
and voted on as read.
WANTED THIS TO BE PROHIBITION
PARTY AND NOT AN ALL AROUND
PARTY.
When the 3rd section about corrupting
voters. and relating to immigration. was
read, DIR. J. W. Points of Harrisonburg
moved to strike it out. He said he didn't
expect to get second to his motion, but
nevertheless he would make it.
Maj. Newton said he would second the
motion Of DR.. Points merely to get it
. before the convention and give that gen.
tleman an opportunity to be heard.
DIR. Points then asked that the call for
the convention be read by tie Secretary.
It was read.
DR.. Points then went on to say that he
did not object to the restriction of immi.
grafton. He was an American and believed
that American ideas should rule this
country. But he was here solely as a
Prohibitionist, and could not see what
Prohibition had to do with immigration.
He said he should also object to and vote
against every clause about to be read that
had no relation to Prohibition. If Prohi-
bition carried the country, Prohibitionists
Wnu16 no n cnah irh hof oh
expressions of opinions as are in this
platform would not be needed. This was
not the time, nor place, nor did the neces-
sity exist for expressing opinions on those
other issues between the two old PARTIES
indeed 1t was imperative On this conven-
tion not to express them. They did not
come here about grants of land, immigra-
ton, tariff and the like: they came to put
before the people the clear sharp cut issue
of Prohibition. The curse of new parties
has been their undertaking to do too
much. That has been the history of all
new parties in this country. 1t was use
less and hazardous for this body to deal
with any issue except Prohibition, and he
implored it not to 80 any farther in the
other directions it was taking.
WANTS A TAIL TO THE KITE.
Rev. Mr.. Young approved the Platform
and thought no kite could fly without a
tail. The Democratic and Republican
parties had tails to their kites and we
should have one. If we were afraid to say
what principles we hold on public issues,
that was another matter.
Rev. G.. L. D. Collins thought the phra
seology of the clause made it liable to be
misunderstood. That portion about buying
and corrupting the voters might be out of
place, for neither Of the old parties had
made any enactment to that end, and it
could not be justly charged to the party as
party. 1t was done by corrupt lndivi-
dual members of those parties. But he
did not agree with DR.. Points views
about Prohibition being the only thing in
the platform. We have the general good,
the public good to deal with, and we ought
to set forth our position on all issues
affecting it. A platform Of principles
is not tail to kite, but it is the string
which susp5nds our kite IN the political
atmosphere.
AIMED AT THE LIQUOR DEALERS PUR-
CHASE OF VOTES.
Mr.. Taylor, chairman of the committee,
defended the report. The allusion to cor
rupting and buying voters was not direct
ed at the Democratic or Republican par
ties. But there is big Liquor Dealers
Association in the United States furnish
ing money to corrupt voters. In Tennessee
to-day it is being done. With regard to
the restriction of the immigration of the
foreigner, Mr.. Taylor said he loved the
foreigners, but when they were being used
by a whiskey organization, to sustain whis,
key. they were the death of this Nation.
We must have platform of principles if
we expect the people to join us, and one
that can be discussed. We want the poll
ticians to discuss it with us, but they
wont. Foraker goes around Ohio like a
roaring lion, seeking to devour somebody
On war issues, but he wont meet our man i,
Leonard, in discussion. (Applause).
Mr.. Ell. G.. Barnhart, of Augusta, OBJ
jected to the third section, and moved to
strike out the last sentence of the first
clause [about immigration) and the whole
of the last clause about voters.
A NOMINEES OPINION.
Mr.. Marshall K. tultZ, Prohibition can
didate for the House of Delegates from
Augusta, said that as he had been chosen
IF ha prnhihifinp or I'd hnor
he was peculiarly interested in the plat
form to be adopted. We were here to carry
out Prohibition, and not for some other
work. He thought the section fixing the
punishment for corrupting voters ought to
be stricken out. Fixing certain sort of
punishment, generally fixed by legislation
was, he thought, outside the province Of
the platform and he should oppose it in
every way. He was of course opposed to
buying votes, or any other form Of corrupt
ing elections. but he was not prepared to
vote to fix the penalty for it.
A REPUBLICAN AND METHODIST.
DR.. Points said he was never afraid to
say what he was in politics or religion.
He was Republican and Methodist, land
he found the two dovetailed very well.
He thought there would be no more buy
ing or selling of votes if the legislature,
the courts, and the offices of the Common
wealth s Attorneys were filled by Prohibi-
tionists. He believed all the good for the
welfare of the people would follow the
success of Prohibition, and so thinking he
wanted that, and not the long list of prin.
ciples found IN the present platform which
he should oppose.
Mr.. w. W. Gibbs of Staunton-If we
form third party here and adopt this
platform will you abide by that action?
I am neither Democrat nor a Republi.